County Administrator Provides Extensive End-of-Year Report

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Staff Writer

HARRISON – Lori Phelps began her Clare County Administrator’s Report during the Dec. 17 meeting of the Clare County Board of Commissioners with information on the then-recently begun annual county audit. She noted that the Michigan State Treasury Department had taken a somewhat different approach, with expanded review of operational practices and best practice compliance.

“Our computer replacement project is complete,” Phelps said. “Ninety-four computers were replaced, fully configured with all the required programs. There were only minor hiccups along the way, and I really want to recognize Josh [xxx, IT director] for his outstanding work on this project. He truly knocked it out of the park – he was awesome.”

Phelps also informed that she would be opening the Fiscal Year 2027 budget at the end of December, with information to be sent out to inform all department heads. She also spoke of beginning the bidding process for health insurance, noting that the county is currently in somewhat of a holding pattern as it awaits information regarding how the sunsetting of the Affordable Care Act at the end of the month would affect premiums and plan options.

Also addressed was the IT cybersecurity audit, which is attached to the county’s Title 4D funding [which supplies funding for the courts and the prosecutor’s office].

“The review found our policies to be in good standing, although there is a new requirement that all employees must annually sign an acknowledgement confirming they have read those policies,” Phelps said. “So, every year employees have to read the policies, sign that they read them and it has to go into their personnel file.” That information also was to be sent to employees in December.

The administrator also informed that there had been new injury in the workplace policies and procedures established, which were to be distributed immediately following BOC approval at that day’s meeting.

“At the state level, the House approved cuts totaling $645 million in FY 25 projects,” Phelps said. “Work project funding allows agencies to continue using appropriated grant dollars beyond the normal budget cycle, but only for specifically approved projects.”

Phelps said she had a list which commissioners could review if desired, but added that it did not directly affect Clare County, but could affect the RxKids program which was rolled out last fall in Clare County.

“Regarding the state mental health oversight plan, a judge recently heard arguments in a lawsuit challenging the state proposal to reorganize how Medicaid-funded mental health and substance use disorder services are managed and paid for,” she said. “The judge has not yet issued a decision, but raised concerns regarding responsibility for contracts, funding and [other] commitments.”

Phelps went on to say that if legal issues were found, the judge would likely allow the state to revise its plan rather than cancel it outright, and that a written decision was expected soon.

The administrator also informed commissioners that she had prepared a binder containing lake level information for each of them. Phelps said it included current lake level reports, a table outlining planned work, and anticipated timelines for that work. She said that when those reports are done again in October and December 2026, the existing reports would be replaced with the new ones.

Phelps also provided some Department Updates, starting with Veterans Affairs having delivered to veterans more than a dozen holiday baskets filled with food and gifts, which was accomplished with assistance from the Clare County Sheriff Department. Also, over the year, transportation of 265 veterans was coordinated, totaling more than 40,450 miles for medical appointments. The installation of an additional flag pole at Veterans Freedom Park to accommodate the Space Force flag was also noted. “Additionally, Allisha [Gary, veterans services officer] participated in her second Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., escorting a local veteran.”

Phelps also reported that the Clare County Animal Shelter was at capacity housing 26 dogs and 15 cats. She relayed Animal Control’s stated need for Pedigree canned dog food, specifically the gravy varieties for high protein outputs. That specificity, Phelps explained was due to the fact that so many of the dogs received are malnourished, thus requiring high protein diets.

It was further noted that Senior Services had reinstated a second daily meal on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, in addition to the regular hot meals served Monday through Friday.

“Carry-out meals are also available for individuals who qualify for the home-delivered meals,” Phelps said. Adding that the Senior Services Christmas dinner was to be held the following Friday, by reservation, and that the Democratic Party had donated 100 gift bags for distribution to homebound seniors for Christmas.

That led to an overview of recent lawsuits involving MERS [Municipal Employee Retirement System].

“While details are still emerging that MERS is suing advisers over an alternative energy investment,” Phelps said. “And MERS itself is being sued over an investment related to a Hawaii coffee farm. These cases do not directly affect benefits already earned which are generally protected under pension law. Unless there is a major insolvency or a statutory change, pension streams are rarely reduced due to litigation.

“The potential impact for us would likely come in the form of higher contribution rates,” she said, assuring she would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Phelps last bit of information for commissioners related to the term for the BOC’s vice chair, as per MCL 46.34 which states the board chair is elected for a two-year term, unless the board rules specify otherwise. She said the BOC’s rules do call for a two-year term for the board chair, but that statute requires the vice chair must be elected annually for a one-year term – and the Board does not have the option to do otherwise. Thus, Phelps said she would be including election of the vice chair on the January agenda.